Date

Workshop Announcement: Cook Inlet Physical Oceanography Workshop

21-22 February 2005

Alaska Islands and Oceans Visitors Center
Homer, AK

For more information or to register contact:
Misty Ott
Phone: 07-644-6700
Email: mistyott [at] nprb.org

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, 1 February 2005


Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council, Kachemak Bay Research
Reserve and the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) invite you to
participate in the Cook Inlet Physical Oceanography Workshop to be held
February 21 and 22, 2005 in Homer Alaska at the Alaska Islands and
Oceans Visitors Center. The purpose of the workshop is to learn about
current research and monitoring in Cook Inlet waters and to help
brainstorm ideas for valuable products and services to aid mariners,
scientists, industry, resource managers, educators, and other users of
marine resources.

Workshop goals include:
1. To better coordinate and integrate physical oceanography
monitoring, research, and modeling efforts in the Cook Inlet region;
2. To discover Resource Users' ideas for useful products, tools, and
services that can be developed from this research and monitoring;
3. To begin developing the Cook Inlet portion of the Alaska Ocean
Observing System (AOOS).

AOOS is the Alaska component of a growing national network of integrated
ocean observing systems that will improve our ability to rapidly detect
changes in marine ecosystems and living resources, and predict future
changes and their consequences for the public good.

We welcome researchers, data collectors/monitors, modelers, and all
users of Cook Inlet. This workshop is especially appropriate for the
oil, gas and mining industry representatives, marine navigators,
fishermen, community planners, and those involved with recreation and
tourism and search and rescue operations. Since Cook Inlet is connected
to the larger Gulf of Alaska, we also invite researchers, modelers and
others who can speak to the information needs from areas outside of Cook
Inlet that may influence the Inlet's water currents or are directly
influenced by the physical oceanography of Cook Inlet.

Proposed sessions include:
1. Ongoing or planned observational and research data collection
2. Numerical Modeling: Limitations and Data Needs
3. User needs breakout groups
4. Coordination and Planning: Identifying Products and Tools for
Users; Setting Priorities for Data Collections; Planning for a Cook
Inlet Ocean Observing System

If you are an interested researcher, observer or potential product user
please take five minutes to fill out our survey at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?A=56299242E51154
This information will allow us to better organize sessions and breakout
groups.

Deadline to register: Tuesday, 1 February 2005

For more information or to register contact:
Misty Ott
Phone: 907-644-6700
Email: mistyott [at] nprb.org

Additional information regarding hotels and other logistics will be sent
later. The workshop is anticipated to begin at 9 AM on February 21 and end
no later than 3:30 PM on February 22.

Thanks for your participation.